Demo impressions: NBA Street Homecourt

Can you believe we have to review another demo this week? First it was GRAW 2 and then Fusion Frenzy 2 and now this. It's probably the most Marketplace content we've seen in a single week since X'06. Not that I'm complaining—like Ben, I also have an affinity for free, pre-release demos.

NBA Street Homecourt is the latest incarnation of the NBA Street series made famous on the PS2 by my neighbors to the west, EA Big. Featuring over-the-top gameplay akin to NBA Jam, the 3-on-3 ball pushes you to go big or go home. Tweaked and improved for the current generation of consoles, Homecourt looks and plays great.

If you've played either of the PS2 titles, you'll already be familiar with the basics. The general flow of the game is very much the same as it was a few years ago: three ballers of your choice battling for supremacy on the city streets with no real rules. Dunks are worth one, outside-the-arch shots are worth two. First to twenty-one wins.

At first, you may think that the game offers only a superficial visual upgrade that boasts gorgeous new models, 60 FPS, and nothing more. However, a few of the key gameplay fundamentals have been modified for the better. Gamebreakers, which used to dictate who won a game, have been toned down slightly so that defending against them is more than just blind luck. In the original, a tough rivalry with your buddy often boiled down to a matter of gamebreaker management, but no longer. While they are still powerful, they are not unbeatable.

In addition, the dunks have seen a huge change, too. You can now used timed button presses to re-dunk a ball you've already dunked. Right after the dunk animation, if you get the press properly, your character will grab the ball with his feet and lob it back up to his hands to dunk again—and yes, that counts for two points. There's really no eloquent way to describe it: it's freaking sick.

EA Big has a special place in my heart. The original NBA Street and the original SSX were two of my favorite PS2 games, so I can't help but look forward to this upcoming release. It looks and plays great, even in this limited demo. The changes made are for the better and I can't wait to dominate the court online. With a souped up single player mode and online play, NBA Street Homecourt is definately going to be a game that I pick up. For those who like their sports games extreme, check this one out: you won't be disappointed after the first triple-dunk.